Device for separating gasoline from lubricating oils



w. SCHWALGE 1,757,223

DEVICE FOR SEPARATING GASOLINE FROM LUBRI CA'I'ING OILS May 6, 1930.

Filed May 11 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mlllllllllllll Z// y 3 w. SCHWALGE1,757,223

DEVICE FOR SEPARATING GASOLINE FROM LUBRICATING OILS Filed y 1 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I hu /ZZZ)? @Z'am/JZZmq/ c v vzdaoes'ocal y 5 ,gg v

Patented May 6, 1930 OFFICE WILLIAM scn'wnnen, or nmrz'auns'r, rumorsDEVICE FOR SEPARATING GASOLINE FROM LUBRICATING OILS Application filedMay 11,

This invention relates to a method and device or apparatus forseparating gasoline or similar volatile fluids from lubricating oilsafter being used, such as in the crank case of an automobile or thelike.

An object of the invention is to recover the oil in a cheap andefiicient manner and permit the gasoline or other volatile oils ormaterial to be separated and passed off in the form of vapor or fumesand to provide a portable electrically heated device for this purpose.

Another object of the invention is also to provide novel means fordistributing the-used or lubricating oil over a surface so that lessheat is required to separate oils from the grease or lubricating oilsand to distribute or spread the same in the form of a thin film or layerwhereby the separating action is greatly expedited and enhanced, and aclear amber colored product produced from a used lubricating oilcontaining carbon and otherimpurities as well as solid constituents.

Other and further objects will be apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable electrically heated deviceor apparatus for separating gasoline or other-volatile oils fromlubricating oils and for carrying out my novel method.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device or apparatus.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view across the center ofthe device showing the upper portion with the heaters and spreaders.

Figure 4. is an enlarged central longitudinal sectional view of thedevice, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the spreadersor distributors constituting a part of the device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in which like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the deviceis shown as comprising a casing 5 preferably of metal and rectangularcross section and shape supported on legs 6 if desired, said casinghaving an opening 7 across the bottom of the front wall. The top portion8 is preferably disposed on a 1926. Serial No. 108,347.

slight incline or adapted to support in a slightly inclined position, arelatively shallow pan 9 having a surrounding rim 10 adapted to rest onthe top edge 8, which latter has its sides referably flanged or directlyinwardly at rig t angles, as indicated at 11. The ends of the pan 9 aredisposed very close to the ends of the casing 5, being substantially incontact therewith as shown in Figure 4, while the sides are directedoutwardly to form flanges 12 supported on the inwardly extended flanges11 and providing air spaces 13 between the sides of the pan and thesides of the casing, asclearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Arran ed over the top of the casing is a cover 14 aving one or moreescape openings. 15 over which may be provided a ventilating pipe orchimney 16 for the escape of the fumes or vapors as will be laterdescribed. At one end of the casing, a suitable bracket or support 17 isprovided for a reservoir or tank 18, the supply or feeding of the oiltherefrom being regulated by a faucet or cook 19 from which it isdischarged onto theinclined plane or pan Pan 9 is provided at oppositesides with openings 20 preferably of semi-circular form as shownextending from the top edge thereof partially into the sides, that isspaced from the bottom of the pan to prevent the oil from flowingthereover, but permitting free circulation of air through the passagesor chan nels 13 between the sides of the pan and the sides of the casingthrough the openings 20 and above the pan, the same finally making exitthrough the escape opening or chimney 16. The lower tion formed therebyin the casing, is provided to drain the oil towards the center, at whichpoint it is provided with an outlet pipe or spout 21 through which therefined and amber colored oil is delivered into a receptacle 22 afterthe gasoline or other volatile products are separated therefrom.

A series of gas baflies and spreaders or distributors 23 are arrangedtransversely across the partition or bottom of the pan 9 and thesespreaders are preferably. made in the form of o tuse angled members orplates, all of the portion of the pan or partiparts being preferably ofalvanized sheet metal or the like. These p ates are open at their endsand are bent at suitable angles intermediately to form angular membersso that when the edges rest on the partition 9 formed by the bottom ofthe pan, substantially trianular chambers over the oil are provided, theorm shown being of the cross section of a channel triangle. Thesespreaders have 011:- positely slopin walls extending toward t partition9 an they project slightly above the bottom edges of the openings 20 asindicated at 24, the spreaders being preferably arranged betweenopposite pairs of said openings 20 as shown. This provides escapeopenings at the sides for air circulating in opposite directions beneaththe spreaders or distributors so as to carryofi' the volatile gases orproducts of evaporation by air entering the opening 7 and then throughthe openings 20 from the side-openings or passages 13. O viously the airwill also enter the sides of spreaders and escape at the centralopenings 25 thereof, preferably of circular or other form. The edgesforming spreaders are suitably spaced apart in parallel relation or maybe made to abut at their edges or stamped in one continuous piecearranged as shown in Figure 4, but are preferably made separate anddisposed in contact as indicated in Figures 4 and 5 arrangedtransversely of the pan or partition and are adapted to spread ordistribute the oil to travel slowly in a thin film or sheet over theentire surface of the bottom of the pan or partition 9 when the oil ispoured onto the partition from the faucet or cook 19. The oil will thentravel by gravity down to the escape opening or spout 21, the movementbeing slowly so as to permit the oil to be confined with the gases andproperly heated by suitable heating means arranged therebeneath forseparating the gasoline and other volatile oils or products from the oilto escape as as or fumes as heretofore pointed out. In t e formillustrated, electrical heating or resistance elements 26 are preferablyprovided for supplying the necessary heat and these elements preferablycomprise cores 27 having the resistance wire or heating element proper28 wound thereon and anchored at each end as indicated at 29 and bars 30provided on the end of rectangular form to engage angular brackets orsupports 31 secured to the sides of the casing 5 as more clearly shownin Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings.

Of course, the spreaders may be adapted to float slightly in order topermit the oil to escape and if desired may be serrated at the bottomedges or otherwise formed for this purpose, but in the preferredconstruction, suflicient oil will pass beneath said spreaders owin tothe irre arities of the metal and the e ect of the 011 and gases orfumes therebeneath, although comparatively smooth and close fitting, asevidenced by the passage of.

oil between a piston fitting subtantially ti htly within a cylinder, asappreciated by t ose acquainted with the art. The heater comprises aseries of the heating elements connected to the end members 30,providing a single unit with the conductors 32 of the respective heatingelements fitting into an extension cord 33 preferably pro erly insulatedand mounted on an insulate bracket 34 at one side of the casing. Thisextension cord 33 is extended through an openin 35 in one side of thecasing and has an attac ent plug or other suitable connection 36 bywhich it may be connected to the house wiring or other electricalcircuit to supply the necessary current for the heating elements.Obviously, the heating arrangement provided insures uniform heatingentirely tion or bottom of the pan 9 but of course, any other suitableheating means may be provided so long as excessive heating is ardedagainst. Furthermore, owing to t e construction provided, the oil is notonly heated from beneath the pan, but the heated air passes through thepassages or-opening's 20 and is held down by the cover 14 so as to heatthe oil, thus insuring quick and complete se beneath the partiaration ofthe gasoline and other volati e products from the oil which is passedoff and collected in an economically operated separating method. Thus,the gasoline or other line of volatile oils contained in the lubricatingoil will be separated therefrom and passed off in j the form of a gas orvapor, the oil being collected in the receptacle 22 as shown. Obviously,the spreaders or distributors will obstruct the flow of the oil down thepartition or heated late and will spread the same in the form 0 a thinfilm or layer so as to secure complete separation and slacken the speedof fiow thereon through the outlet whence it is delivered in the form ofa clear usable oil. Of course, the oil may be previously treated underpressure in anypreferred manner or well known way as by gravityseparation, to separate the gasoline and carbon matter from the heavyoil prior to the complete separation accomplished by the present methodand aparatus.

The heater 26 heats the oil to about 150 F.

and by the time it reaches the end of the in-' member in a slightlyinclined position, means for introducing oil into the pan at the top endthereof, spreader elements within the pan arranged to bound heatingzones, limited by the spreaders on the to and two opposite sides and onthe bottom y the pan, means for supplying heat to the zones, means forthe escape of heated air and evolved vapors, an outlet inthe pan for thedischarge of separated oil therefrom, the spreaders being looselymounted in the pan, a cover portion for the pan having an openingtherein.

2. A device for separating gasoline from oil, comprising a main bodyortion, a pan supported thereon in a slight y inclined position, meansfor depositing oil within the pan, means for supplyin heat to the pan,an outlet from the pan, a pfiirality of spreaders positioned within thepan, the spreaders comprising angularly formed members having openportions with their edges contacting with the pan, and ventilatingopenings for the circulation of air and the escape of the volatilizedgases and separated products therein.

3. A device for separting gasoline from oil, comprising a pan, a coverfor the pan, spreader members members within the an arranged to boundheating zones limited by the spreaders on top, and on the bottom by thepan, means for introducing oil into the pan, means beneath the pan forsupplying heat, said pan, spreaders and cover having openings for theescape of heated air an evolved vapors, an outlet in one end of the panfor the discharge of oil therefrom.

4. A device for separating asoline, volatile oils, and the like, from luricatin oils, comprising a casing, a pan supported y the casing in aslightly inclined position, a cover for the pan, spreader elementswithin the pan arranged to bound heating zones limited by the spreaderson the top and on the bottom by the pan, means beneath the pan forsupplying heat to the zone, said pan, spreaders and cover havingopenings for the escape of heated air and evolved vapors, an outlet inthe pan for the discharge of separated oil.

5. A device for separating gasoline, volatile oils, and the like, fromlubricating oils, comprising a casing, a pan supported by the casing ina slightly inclined position, means for introducing 011 into the top endof the pan, a cover for the pan, spreader elements within the panarranged to bound heating zones limited by the spreaders on the top andtwo opposite sides and on the bottom by the pan, means beneath the panfor supplying heat to the zones said pan spreadersand cover havingopenings for the escape of heated air and evolved vapors, an outlet inthe pan for discharge of separated oil, the spreaders being looselymounted in the an.

6. An apparatus of the class descri ed,

WILLIAM SCHWALGE.

